TW201913277A - Network device and connector panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector panel allowing the use of different connector ports in proximity to each other is disclosed. The connector panel has a first type of connector port, such as an optical connector port. An articulated assembly is located adjacent the first type of connector port, and includes a second type of connector port. The articulated assembly may be swung out from the connector panel, thereby allowing for a connector to be inserted or removed from the second type of connector port without interference from the first type of connector port.

Description

   Network Device and Connector Panel   

The present disclosure relates to a compact connector panel that allows access to a connector.

With the advent of cloud computer applications, distributed network systems have been widely adopted. The network system is mainly for data exchange and storage between different devices. Network devices that are part of a network system include servers, switches, and other components that must be able to receive different data signals and control signals to properly perform network functions. A variety of connectors have emerged for connecting different types of cables that carry electronic signals. Connectors may vary in physical configuration, connection device type, number of conductive connectors, and other characteristics. For example, a male connector can have a variable number of pins that carry electrical signals that can mate with its sockets or ports that have corresponding electrical contacts. To maximize connection to different devices, network devices must have different types of connector ports to allow different types of connectors to be connected. For example, a network device such as a network server will typically include a universal serial bus (USB) connector suitable for a variety of small and miniature devices, and an RJ- 45 connectors and video connectors associated with video connectors and the like.

Recently, the need for increased network capabilities has led to a combination of optical fibers that can carry a larger amount of data at higher speeds than traditional wired cables. The combination of optical connectors allows network devices, such as network switches, to operate at higher data transfer rates. Fiber optics require a dedicated connector that is different from traditional electrical connectors because the connector must include circuits that convert optical signals into electrical signals. However, network devices that read optical signals from optical connectors must still include many older electrical connection ports to receive signals transmitted through more traditional cables.

The combination of optical connectors creates size issues at the relatively uniform height of the housings of standard network devices. FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art connector panel, which is a network device 10 having a plurality of optical connector ports 12 allowing connection of optical fibers. The optical connector port 12 in this example is bonded to the rear panel 14. As shown in FIG. 1A, the optical connector port 12 includes a rectangular transceiver plug, a cylindrical transceiver, and a transceiver label, and thus occupies a significant area of the rear panel 14 and extends outward from the rear panel 14. The area above the optical connector port 12 includes space for the conventional ten-pin RJ-45 connector port 16 for wires. Other electrical connector ports may also be located in the area above the optical connector port 12. FIG. 1A illustrates an RJ-45 connector 18 inserted into the connector port 16. RJ-45 connector 18 is a physical phone-based connector with multiple conductor slots to match the corresponding conductor in the connector port, such as connector port 16. The RJ-45 connector 18 includes an elastic latch 20 protruding from the front of the main body of the connector 18. The end of the latch 20 may be compressed to release the RJ-45 connector 18 from the connector port 16. As shown in FIG. 1A, a configuration in which the latch 20 is positioned in the slot 22 at the top of the connector 18 is shown. This configuration adds some additional height to the panel 14 and makes it difficult to access the latch 20 because it may be flush with another device stacked on the network device 10. Therefore, it will be difficult to separate the RJ-45 connector 18 and the connector port 16.

Another alternative configuration of fiber optic connector ports and wire connector ports is shown in another exemplary network device 50 in FIG. 1B. In FIG. 1B, the same components as those in FIG. 1A have the same reference numerals, for example, optical connector port 12, RJ-45 connector port 16, and RJ-45 connector 18. In the network device 50, the RJ-45 connector 18 has been configured so that the latch 20 is away from the edge of the panel 14. This will allow the height of the network device 50 to be closer. However, as shown in FIG. 1B, since the latch 20 is adjacent to the optical connector port 12, the latch 20 is difficult to access. In addition, since the optical connector port 12 is located directly below the latch 20 and blocks the movement of the latch 20, it is also difficult for the latch 20 to be pulled down to release the RJ-45 connector 18.

Therefore, there is a need for a connector panel that allows a latch-based connector to be easily connected and disconnected. A connector panel including an optical connector port and a standard electrical connector port is also needed. There is also a need for connector panels that can minimize height but allow for different types of connector ports.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a network device is provided, including: a housing, a connector panel, and a hinge assembly. The connector panel is located at one end of the housing, and the connector panel has a first connector port. The hinge assembly is adjacent the first connector port and the hinge assembly has a second connector port, wherein the hinge assembly is operable to swing between a first position flush with the connector panel and a second position remote from the connector panel.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connector port and the second connector port are different types of connector ports for receiving different types of mating connectors.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connector port is an optical connector port, and the second connector port is a wired connector port.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second connector port includes a slot for receiving a latch of a mating connector.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mating connector is an RJ-45 connector.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, it further includes a locking component, the locking component has a locking position for holding the hinge assembly in the first position and an open position for releasing the hinge assembly.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the third connector port is located on the connector panel or the hinge assembly.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector panel that allows a cable to be connected to a network device. The connector panel includes a first region and a second region. The first area contains a first connector port. The second region includes a hinge assembly operable to swing between a first position flush with the first region and a second position remote from the second region, the second region is close to the first region, wherein the hinge assembly includes a first Two connector ports.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connector port and the second connector port are different types of connector ports for receiving different types of mating connectors.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connector port is an optical connector port extending outward from the panel, and wherein the second connector port is a wired connector port.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second connector port includes a slot for receiving a latch of a mating connector.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mating connector is an RJ-45 connector.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, it further includes a locking component, the locking component has a locking position for holding the hinge assembly in the first position and an open position for releasing the hinge assembly.

10‧‧‧ Network Device

12‧‧‧ optical connector port

14‧‧‧ Panel

16‧‧‧ connector port

18‧‧‧ connector

20‧‧‧ Latch

22‧‧‧Slot

50‧‧‧ network device

100‧‧‧ network switch device

102‧‧‧Shell

104‧‧‧Backend

110‧‧‧ connector panel

112‧‧‧optical connector port

113‧‧‧Transceiver plug

114‧‧‧light-emitting diode

116‧‧‧light-emitting diode

118‧‧‧Optical Transceiver

120‧‧‧ Transceiver Tag

130‧‧‧area

132‧‧‧ connector port

134‧‧‧ connector port

136‧‧‧Frame members

138‧‧‧Slot

140‧‧‧ connector

142‧‧‧ Ontology

144‧‧‧connection area

146‧‧‧latch

148‧‧‧Free End

150‧‧‧ hinge assembly

152‧‧‧latch assembly

154‧‧‧Support member

156‧‧‧pin

210‧‧‧ heat sink

212‧‧‧Pivot point

214‧‧‧light tube

220‧‧‧Top panel

222‧‧‧Front panel

228‧‧‧ protrusion

224‧‧‧ wings

240‧‧‧Top components

242‧‧‧Front component

244‧‧‧pin

The disclosure will be better understood through the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is a prior art connector panel including an optical connector port and Electrical connector port; FIG. 1B is another prior art connector panel, which includes an optical connector port and an electrical connector port opposite to the directions in FIG. 1A; FIG. 2 is an optical connection on the hinge assembly Perspective view of the connector panel of the connector port and the electrical connector port; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector panel of FIG. 2 with the hinge assembly swinging outward; and FIG. 4 is a view of the connector panel of FIG. 2 Perspective view with hinged components reconnected to the connector panel.

This disclosure allows various modifications and alternative forms, and some representative embodiments have been shown through the embodiments in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

This disclosure can be implemented in many different forms. Representative embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, it being understood that this document is a principled example or illustration of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the disclosure to what is depicted Examples. In this regard, elements and limitations, such as those disclosed in the Abstract, Summary, and Implementation sections, but which are not explicitly set forth in the claim, should not be incorporated into the claim individually or collectively by implication, inference, or otherwise. For the purposes of this detailed description, unless explicitly denied, the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and the word "include" means "including but not limited to." In addition, approximate words such as "about", "almost", "substantially", "approximately" can be used to indicate "close to or close to" or "within 3-5%" or "within acceptable manufacturing tolerances" Within "or any logical combination thereof.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary device having various connector ports, such as a network switch device 100 for transmitting data signals between different network nodes. As shown in FIG. 2, the network switch device 100 includes a housing 102 including a back end 104 having interface hardware for various connector ports to allow connection to different types of connector cables. Other network nodes and devices.

The back end 104 includes a connector panel 110 that includes a series of optical connector ports 112. As shown in FIG. 2, each optical connector port 112 has a rectangular transceiver plug 113 extending outward from the connector panel 110. The rectangular body contains a fiber housing material for receiving an optical signal from an optical fiber, and mechanical and electronic components for converting the optical signal on the optical fiber into an electrical signal. Each optical connector port 112 is adjacent to two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 114, 116 indicating the connection and transmission of the optical connector port 112. In this embodiment, each optical connector port 112 cooperates with an optical transceiver 118 that includes a transceiver tag 120 that maintains the optical fiber at the corresponding optical connector port 112. The transceiver tag 120 orients the fiber to ensure that the fiber is not kinked and therefore reduces the optical signal. Of course, it can be understood that, depending on the desired network configuration, the number of optical transceivers 118 inserted may be less than the number of all optical connector ports 112. Therefore, some optical connector ports 112 may be open ports that do not have an optical connector connected.

The connector panel 110 includes a region 130 above the optical connector port 112 for additional electrical connector ports. In this embodiment, the area 130 includes a universal serial bus (USB) connector port 132 and two RJ-45 connector ports 134. Although two RJ-45 connector ports 134 are shown in this embodiment, it can be understood that any number of RJ-45 connector ports 134 can be provided on the connector panel 110. In addition, other types of connector ports may be located in the area 130. The RJ-45 connector port 134 and the universal serial bus (USB) connector port 132 are on the hinge assembly 150. Figure 2 shows the RJ-45 connector 140 inserted into the RJ-45 connector port 134. As shown in FIG. 2, the connector port 134 is immediately adjacent to the optical connector port 112. The optical connector port 112 and the inserted optical transceiver 118 therefore prevent the use of the connector port 134.

As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, the RJ-45 connector 140 has a rectangular body 142 with a connection area 144 on the top side, and ten wires are cut out from the front end of the body 142 into the slots. The rear end of the body 142 includes a socket for receiving a cable. The elastic latch 146 is supported by the front end of the body 142 opposite to the connection region 144. The resilient latch 146 has a free end 148 opposite the front end of the body 142. When the free end 148 of the elastic latch 146 is compressed, the RJ-45 connector 140 can be released from the RJ-45 connector port 134.

Figure 4 shows the RJ-45 connector port 134 with the RJ-45 connector removed. The RJ-45 connector port 134 includes a frame member 136. In this embodiment, the top inner wall of the RJ-45 connector port 134 includes wire contacts to mate with the slots of the connection area 144 in the RJ-45 connector 140 of FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. The frame member 136 includes a slot 138 at the bottom to allow the latch 146 of the RJ-45 connector to be inserted.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the RJ-45 connector 140 is inserted into the RJ-45 connector port 134, the hinge assembly 150 is usually in a closed position flush with the connector panel 110. A sliding latch assembly 152 is adjacent to the hinge assembly 150 to maintain the hinge assembly 150 in the closed position. The support member 154 supports the connector panel 110. The pin 156 is inserted through the support member 154 and holds the connector panel 110 on the network switch device 100. Since the connector port 134 is in close proximity to the optical connector port 112, the connector panel 110 has a relatively close height, but also allows both optical fibers and cables to be connected to the corresponding optical connector port 112 and electrical connector port 134, respectively. .

FIG. 3 illustrates the hinge assembly 150 swinging away from the connector panel 110 to allow a user to connect and separate an RJ-45 connector such as a connector 140 and an RJ-45 connector port 134. As shown in FIG. 3, the connector panel 110 includes a heat sink 210 that supports a pivot point 212 connected to the hinge assembly 150. The hinge assembly 150 can thus be rotated away from the connector panel 110 about the pivot point 212. Various wires (not shown) are connected to the rear of the area 130 to connect to the connector ports 132, 134. The wires are of sufficient length to allow the connector ports 132, 134 to connect with other hardware in the network switch device 100 when the hinge assembly 150 is rotated away from the connector panel 110. As shown in FIG. 3, a series of light pipes 214 are connected to each transceiver plug 113.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hinge assembly 150 includes a top panel 220 and a front panel 222 connected to the top panel 220 at a vertical angle. The middle flap 224 extends from the rear of the front panel 222 and is parallel to the top panel 220. When the hinge assembly 150 is in the closed position, the middle fin 224 and the top panel 220 together form a groove conforming to the edge of the heat sink 210 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the front panel 222 is sized on the connector panel 110 to form a region 130 above the optical connector port 112.

As shown in FIG. 3, the latch assembly 152 includes a top member 240 and a front member 242 that are vertically connected. The front member 242 has a pin 244 that cooperates with a slot (not shown) on the network switch device 100. A spring (not shown) may be installed to force the latch assembly 152 to contact the hinge assembly 150. The latch assembly 152 is thus movable between a locked position and an open position relative to the hinge assembly 150. In this embodiment, the middle tab 224 of the latch assembly 152 includes a protrusion 228 that extends from the edge of the middle tab 224 when the latch assembly 152 is in the closed state. The edges of the top member 240 and the front member 242 are used to contact the protrusion 228 and the front panel 222, respectively, so as to maintain the hinge assembly 150 in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2.

When a user applies pressure to move the latch assembly 152 to the open position as shown in FIG. 3, the hinge assembly 150 is released and can be rotated away from the connector panel 110. As shown in FIG. 3, when the hinge assembly 150 is rotated to leave the connector panel 110, the connector port 134 is no longer located directly on top of the optical connector port 112 and the optical transceiver 118. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, this allows sufficient space for the latch 146 for the RJ-45 connector 140 to rise upward in the bottom slot 138 when the hinge assembly 150 is rotated to leave the connector panel 110. The direction is compressed, thereby easily releasing the connector 140 from the RJ-45 connector port 134 because the optical connector port 112 and the optical transceiver 118 do not block access to the free end 148 of the latch 146. In this manner, the connector panel 110 may have a relatively small height because the slot 138 located on the RJ-45 connector port 134 and used to insert the latch 146 of the RJ-45 connector 140 may be located on the connector The bottom of port 134. In this embodiment, the connector 140 is removed from the RJ-45 connector port 134 on the hinge assembly 150 as shown in FIG. 3.

Figure 4 illustrates the hinge assembly 150 after the RJ-45 connector 140 shown in Figures 1 and 2 has been removed from the RJ-45 connector port 134. The latch assembly 152 moves to the open position, and the hinge assembly 150 moves to the closed position on the connector panel 110. The latch assembly 152 is then released to the closed position to lock in the hinge assembly 150. As shown in FIG. 3, when the hinge assembly 150 is rotated to leave the connector panel 110, the RJ-45 connector can also be connected to any empty RJ-45 connection port 134. Once removed from the connector port 134 or inserted into the connector 140 in FIGS. 2 to 3, the hinge assembly 150 can swing back to a position flush with the connector panel 110, as shown in FIG. 4.

The connector panel 110 may have multiple rows of connectors, and may have multiple hinge assemblies similar to the hinge assembly 150 to allow for a closer configuration. For example, the connector panel 110 may have two sets of hinge assemblies similar to the hinge assembly 150 near the top and bottom of the panel to facilitate the connection of the connectors and allow for a closer arrangement. Multiple hinge assemblies similar to the hinge assembly 150 may be configured along the top or bottom edge of the connector panel 110 for receiving additional connector ports. In addition, the connector port fixed on the connector panel 110 may be the same type or a different type of connector as the optical connector port 112. The connector ports on the hinge assembly 150 may all be the same type or different types. If the connector ports are arranged in a vertical direction, another hinge assembly similar to the hinge assembly 150 may be located near one side of the connector panel 110.

As used in this disclosure, the terms "component", "module", "system", etc. generally refer to a computer-related entity and can be hardware (such as a circuit), a combination of hardware and software, software, or a combination of An entity related to the operation of a machine with one or more specific functions. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor (eg, a digital signal processor), a processor, an object, an executable program, an execution thread, a program, and / or a computer. By way of illustration, both the application running on the controller and the controller can be components. One or more components can reside within a process and / or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and / or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, a "device" may take the form of specially designed hardware; general-purpose hardware specifically manufactured by executing software on it to enable the hardware to perform a specific function; software stored on a computer-readable medium; combination.

Computer devices typically include a variety of media, which may include computer-readable storage media and / or communications media, where these two terms are used differently from each other as follows. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available storage medium that can be accessed by a computer, is generally non-transitory, and may include volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable storage media may be implemented by incorporating any method or technology for storing information such as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structured data, or unstructured data. Computer-readable storage media may include, but is not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electronically erasable rewritable read-only memory (electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD), or other Optical disk storage, tape cartridges, magnetic tapes, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices or other tangible and / or non-transitory media that can be used to store the required information. Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local computer devices or remote computer devices, for example, via access requests, queries or other data retrieval protocols, for various operations related to the information stored on the media.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, to the extent that the terms "including", "including", "having", "have", "and" and "or" or variations thereof are used in the detailed descriptions and / or claims herein, such terms are included Similar to the term "include".

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, terms such as defined in a general dictionary should be interpreted to have meanings consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant field, and will not be understood as idealized or overly formal meanings unless explicitly defined as such herein .

Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they are merely examples and not limiting. Various changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the breadth and scope of this disclosure should not be limited by any of the above embodiments. Instead, the scope of this disclosure should be defined based on the appended claims and their equivalents.

Although the disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to one or more embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize equivalent changes and modifications after reading and understanding the specification and drawings. In addition, although a particular feature of this disclosure may only be disclosed in one of a number of embodiments, such a feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, such as for any given or particular application.

Claims (10)

    A network device includes: a housing; a connector panel at one end of the housing, the connector panel having a first connector port; and a hinge assembly near the first connector port, and the hinge assembly There is a second connector port, wherein the hinge assembly is operable to swing between a first position flush with the connector panel and a second position remote from the connector panel.         The network device according to claim 1, wherein the first connector port and the second connector port are different types of connector ports for receiving different types of mating connectors.         The network device according to claim 1, wherein the first connector port is an optical connector port, and wherein the second connector port is a wired connector port.         The network device of claim 1, wherein the second connector port includes a slot for receiving a latch of a mating connector.         The network device according to claim 1, further comprising a locking component, the locking component having a locking position for holding the hinge component in the first position and an open position for releasing the hinge component.         The network device according to claim 1, wherein a third connector port is located on the connector panel or the hinge assembly.         A connector panel, which allows a cable to be connected to a network device, includes: a first area including a first connector port; and a second area including a hinged component, the hinge The assembly is operable to swing between a first position flush with the first region and a second position remote from the second region, the second region is close to the first region, wherein the hinged assembly includes a second Connector port.         The connector panel according to claim 7, wherein the first connector port and the second connector port are different types of connector ports for receiving different types of mating connectors.         The connector panel according to claim 7, wherein the second connector port includes a slot for receiving a latch of a mating connector.         The connector panel according to claim 7, further comprising a locking component, the locking component having a locking position for holding the hinge component in the first position and an open position for releasing the hinge component.